Made in Heaven’s Tara is the perfect anti-hero

Zoya Akhtar, acclaimed as one of the greatest storytellers of our generation, has a remarkable ability to delve into the complexities of South Asian women's lives. With the long-awaited return of "Made in Heaven" for its second season, we find ourselves captivated once again by the intricacies of the characters and their journeys. Among them, Tara Khanna, portrayed by Sobhita Dhulipala, stands out as the embodiment of the perfect anti-hero.

In the first season, Tara was introduced as a beautiful, creative, and talented woman seemingly conquering the Indian wedding planning industry with a "girl-boss" attitude. Her fashion choices were a statement in themselves, and her presence on screen was nothing short of breathtaking. Yet, beneath the façade, we began to see the cracks in her character.

tara khanna u will always be famous for women rights and more importantly for women wrongs
— maryam (@maryamful) August 29, 2023

Season two delves deep into Tara's family history and portrays her as a resilient character willing to go to great lengths to achieve her goals. While we, as the audience, might have yearned for Tara's redemption arc, the show takes a different route.

Tara is portrayed as a survivor, holding onto a semblance of reality while navigating the world of picture-perfect weddings in equally perfect saris. However, a darker reality lies beneath the surface. She grapples with distanced friendships, growing isolation, and a realization of her diminishing power. It's this vulnerability that draws us to her character. Behind her stone-cold exterior, there is a broken woman. Yet, she rejects this narrative and, as the series progresses, we witness her weaponizing the beauty she was once celebrated for.

To meet Raghav’s parents, Tara opts for a romantic pink and white ensemble that enhances her femininity, but that pink transforms into many shades deeper when she sleeps with Adil & in a passionate vengeance goes on to blackmail him into giving her the Khanna house.#MadeInHeaven pic.twitter.com/B6G48Pwyk4
— Shivani Yadav (@TheShivaniYadav) September 2, 2023

While "Made in Heaven" claims to be progressive on the surface, there is a desire for a more inclusive narrative. Some episodes, particularly those featuring Muslim weddings, could have delved deeper. The series provides a somewhat stereotypical depiction of a Muslim wedding, touching on phenomena like second wives and the reading of the nikkah. However, it seems to skim over the potential for a more nuanced exploration. Is this tokenism, or is it an attempt to shed light on the diversity of communities in India?

As an audience, it's essential to deconstruct the problematic aspects of Tara's character. She exists within a patriarchal society, and some truths need to be acknowledged: women often have to work harder to be heard, level the playing field, and use their resources to rise because society frequently falls short.

Tara's actions in season two leave us with conflicting emotions, transitioning our empathy into a mixture of pity and resentment. Her motivations, such as manipulating Adil (Jim Sarbh) and taking ownership of his family home, leave a bitter taste. It becomes clear that she craves one thing above all else—power. It's a twisted form of self-assurance that pushes her to the brink of vilification among those in her circle.

Just like the previous season, this season too ends with Karan and Tara sitting in each other’s company. And again, they are in black and white - opposites of each other, but nevertheless, the same.

They are truly each other’s ying-yang.#MadeInHeaven #MadeInHeavenS2 pic.twitter.com/MuTwRTbUJS
— Shivani Yadav (@TheShivaniYadav) September 2, 2023

Tara's fashion choices become an essential aspect of her character. Each outfit she wears is carefully curated, reflecting her desire to fit into the circles she aspires to be a part of. She wields her beauty as a weapon, with her clothes serving as armor that must never show any vulnerability. Her fashion choices tell a story often overlooked—the psychology of fashion rooted in one's environment. Tara dresses for the environment she dreams to inhabit.

Perhaps Tara's character serves as a commentary on what society needs to unlearn—that beauty and power can coexist, and unexpected challenges are consistently thrown at women. The real story is how women navigate these challenges and reclaim their power. Tara may be the perfect anti-hero, but she also represents a complex, valid, and sometimes uncomfortable reflection of South Asian society and the journey we still have ahead of us.

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